It was a weekend defined by extraordinary recognition for Florida State University Lawton Distinguished Professor Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.
Within a span of 24 hours, Zollar — a celebrated performer, choreographer and the founder of the internationally acclaimed company Urban Bush Women — received two of performing arts’ most prestigious honors.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, Zollar accepted a special Obie Theater Grant Award on behalf of Urban Bush Women. The next evening, “Intelligence,” an opera Zollar directed and choreographed, won the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.
“When the two awards were announced back-to-back, I was just beside myself,” Zollar said. “It was pretty incredible.”
Created in partnership with librettist Gene Scheer and composer Jake Heggie, “Intelligence” explores the lesser-known story of Mary Jane Bowser, an enslaved woman and Elizabeth Van Lew, a secret abolitionist living in Richmond, Virginia — two women from seemingly opposing sides of society who formed a spy ring for the Union during the Civil War.
Though Zollar is celebrated for dance theater, her work in opera highlighted her versatility.
“I think as an artist you must be really committed to a point of view and committed to your work,” Zollar said. “That point of view can live across many kinds of genres.”
The production featured a team of FSU School of Dance alumni, including Assistant Choreographer Vincent Thomas (MFA ‘98), Coordinator Cheri Stokes (MFA ‘17) and dancers Mikaila Ware (BFA ‘17), Loren Davidson (MFA ‘12) and Kentoria Earle (BFA ’18, MA ‘19).
Just hours before the Grammy win, Zollar was celebrated by the American Theatre Wing with an Obie Award for Urban Bush Women. The Obies, which honor excellence in Off-Broadway and non-profit theater, recognized the company for its 40-year commitment to centering the experiences of Black women and the African diaspora.
Founded by Zollar in 1984, the Brooklyn-based ensemble is known for weaving history and social commentary into performances that blend artistic rigor with community engagement. The Obie citation highlighted the company’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of storytelling through the body.
For Zollar, these accolades are not just personal triumphs but teaching tools she brings back to her students at Florida State University. In the classroom, she emphasizes curiosity and the rigor required to move from competence to excellence — a journey she calls “the road to extraordinary.”
“The road to extraordinary has many stops,” Zollar said. “First you become competent, then good, then very good, then excellent and then extraordinary. But the student decides where they stop by the work they put in. It’s not comfortable to step outside of what you already know, but it is the place of growth.”
James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts, noted that these accolades reinforce Zollar’s standing as a titan in the arts.
“Jawole Zollar continues to explore, challenge and inspire through her artistry, embracing ever more ambitious creative endeavors across a career defined by sustained excellence,” Frazier said. “The recent honors awarded to Urban Bush Women and to the Houston Grand Opera stand not as isolated achievements, but as a powerful affirmation of Professor Zollar’s enduring legacy and her continued contemporary relevance as an artist and collaborator of the highest caliber.”
These prestigious honors for Zollar arrive just days after another major victory for the department, as associate professor nia love was recognized with a Bessie Award for Outstanding Choreographer/Creator.
For more information, visit dance.fsu.edu.